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December 12, 2023 2:10 pm ET
Daniel Cormier explains why he agrees with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for wanting fresh challenges.
When asked if he’d rather run things back with Charles Oliveira or Arman Tsarukyan next, Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) said he prefers a new challenge in the form of “BMF” champion Justin Gaethje.
Although Oliveira (34-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) and Tsarukyan (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) are top contenders, Makhachev has already beaten them both. But it’s something Makhachev said about his fighting future that makes Cormier think he’s right for not being keen on rematches.
“We’re missing why Islam says he doesn’t want rematches and why I think he’s right, if I’m being honest,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “That probably comes as no surprise to you guys because you’re going to say that I’m always biased toward Islam and everything, but I think he’s right. I’m going to tell you why I think he’s right for the simple fact that when the reporter then followed up with Islam, ‘Can you see yourself doing this until you’re 40?’ Islam said, ’40? No. Maybe a couple more years.’
“That’s why I think it’s right that he doesn’t want to fight rematches because if he’s only going to be around for a couple more years, do we want to see him continue to recycle opponents or do we want to see him in there with different people time and time again? That’s why I think he’s right. He said only a couple more years of fighting, and if we have learned anything, Khabib (Nurmagomedov) walked away at the height of his popularity, at the height of his dominance, at the height of the sport, and never looked back.”
Makhachev submitted Oliveira to claim the vacant lightweight belt at UFC 280. He defeated Tsarukyan by decision in April 2019, in what was Tsarukyan’s octagon debut.
Tsarukyan has since gone 8-1, whereas Oliveira rebounded with a first-round TKO of Beneil Dariush at UFC 289. Cormier isn’t saying that they’re not worthy of a title shot, but he prefers seeing Makhachev clearing out the division.
“When you hear Makhachev saying ‘I’ve got a couple years left,’ do we really want to see him fighting guys like Charles, who has proven to be the second best in the division, at least, according to their first fight?” Cormier said. “Or Arman Tsarukyan who he fought a long time ago, who has proven to be one of the best lightweights in the world? Do we want to see that, especially when guys don’t fight as frequently as they used to? If Makhachev is fighting twice a year and he’s fighting for only a couple more years, that’s four fights.
“Or would we like to see him fight a Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler maybe, Mateusz Gamrot or one of the other great young challengers that are coming up that we haven’t seen him in there with before? Now, I’m not saying I’m not going to tap into a fight with him and ‘Do Bronx’ (Oliveira) or with him and Tsarukyan. I’m not saying that those guys are not warranted a title championship opportunity if they are giving it to them. They have earned that. For me, I’m like, well, if it’s not going to be a long time, then maybe we should see if he’s the guy that can keep that next wave of guys from dethroning him.”
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